Ever been to a pop-up harvest fair?

It was a Golden Delicious day for a Pop Up Harvest Fair in Round Hill. Avalon, the home of the lovely Linda and Miles Leahy, located on the picturesque Highway 201, was a peck of people gathered together to share in this artisanal food and crafts gala.

Linda, a soap maker and owner of Bee & Swan, and her bestie Garth Lescaudron, a foodie and Victorian/Edwardian/Georgian butler, decided they wanted to have a Thanksgiving dinner party. Then they wanted to press apple cider from the apple- heavy trees on the property. Then they thought it would be fun to invite their favourite people - growers and makers of good food and eclectic crafts - and the Pop Up Fair was born…and Garth wanted to make squash soup.

Tucked into the orchard were Sense & SensibiliTea, hand- blended teas inspired from history and literature. Snow Lake Keep, organic growers of veggies and makers of chevre and feta. There was moose meat by Joe and beer from Lazy Bear Brewing in Smith’s Cove and spirits to warm you up from Still Fired Distilleries in Lequille. Round Hill Preserves by yours truly… me, brought the best of the harvest captured in mason jars. Mystical paintings, trinkets and natural products were displayed by a Pink Lady, while Milo the Clown walked in exceptionally large shoes around his Empire. Gorgeous selections of bound books and photo albums using up-cycled materials were appealing to all and of course Bee & Swan soaps made an appearance... there was even one made with apple.

As folks pressed up the driveway they were offered fresh apple cider, squeezed right in front of us. A couple played music on the bank while Granny Smith tapped her toes to the beat. The Honeycrisp air and sun shining brightly beckoned customers to tables and laughter like Ambrosia could be heard across the way.

The squash soup was brought out and laid on a checkered cloth, rolls and soft butter to accompany the smooth and delicate flavour and soak up every last drop. Beneath the branches, we broke bread and ate together, some of strangers but connected in this place.

It was a lovely way to spend a Sunday afternoon in this quaint community and that was exactly what they hoped for.